Team Herald
MARGAO: The Global Konknni Forum (GKF) has proposed a draft bill urging the Goa government to amend the Official Language Act, advocating for the recognition of the Roman script alongside the Devanagari script for the Konknni language in schools. This draft will be presented to the Goa Legislative Assembly, aiming to ensure the survival and promotion of both scripts, which the forum views as essential to the state’s cultural heritage.
Kennedy Afonso, President of GKF, emphasised the importance of preserving Konknni in its Roman script form, citing Article 29 (1) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the protection of the cultural and linguistic rights of minorities. According to Afonso, the Roman script has been a crucial part of Goan history and culture, alongside the Devanagari script, and both should be equally prioritised in education and public life.
The draft resolution, which according to GKF is set to be introduced in the Assembly, argues that the recent National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provides a supportive framework for this move. The NEP encourages education in one’s mother tongue, home language, or regional language, without imposing any particular script or language on educational institutions. GKF believes that this policy reinforces their demand for the incorporation of Konknni in Roman script in schools where it aligns with the cultural and linguistic preferences of the community.
The GKF’s proposal outlines several key points. First, it stresses the need for the government and educational institutions to respect and promote the linguistic rights of the Konknni-speaking minority, ensuring that the Roman script remains an integral part of Goa’s educational and cultural fabric. Second, it calls for immediate action to protect and promote Konknni in Roman script in educational, cultural, and literary spheres, safeguarding the community’s linguistic rights for future generations.
In addition, the GKF encourages all Goans, regardless of their preferred script for Konknni, to unite in preserving and promoting the language in all its forms. They advocate for mutual respect and collaboration to enrich the shared cultural heritage of Goa.
The resolution, according to Afonso, will be submitted to the Goa government and other concerned authorities for consideration and necessary action.
The GKF hopes this amendment will help preserve the Roman script for Konknni, ensuring its continued relevance and use in Goan society.
Incidentally, GKF have been meeting various MLAs to push forward their demand and have got an appointment with Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza on Friday, October 11, after having already met Velim MLA Cruz Silva, Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, Nuvem MLA and Minister Aleixo Sequeira and Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas in the last few weeks.